In the heart of London, some of Europe’s most powerful men gather to play a game. The game is murder, and this is The Suicide Club. But the club has a new member, Sherlock Holmes: brilliant, brooding, the greatest detective in the world. Why does Holmes wish to die? Can his friend Dr. Watson save him? Or doesn’t Holmes want to be saved? A new stage thriller featuring the famed sleuth in a tale full of mystery, romance, twists and chills.

Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club

Written by Jeffrey Hatcher

Directed by Shawn Andrei

Rating: T for Teens – This play is a comedic thriller that contains some adult themes which might give some parents pause. There is no online version but you can get a copy of the script here.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective takes the stage in this exciting mystery by Jeffrey Hatcher. When members of the nation’s elite are found dead across London, the game’s afoot as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson search for answers. Could it be coincidence? Accident? Or could it have something to do with a mysterious London club which always seems to be on the lookout for new members, but mysteriously never increases it’s membership? We could tell you more, but that wouldn’t be cricket, would it? Match wits with the world’s most famous sleuth as he eliminates the impossible and arrives at the truth–however improbable as it may be.

“Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher takes Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous characters and drops them into a story inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella The Suicide Club to create a thrilling comic mystery. The whodunit mystery comes complete with a wow-I-didn’t-see-that-coming ending.” — Arizona Daily Star

Larry celebrates his fourteenth season with SVS. Artistic director (2005-2012) emeritus and Resident Artist and Company Fight Director, LB appeared on the SVS stage most recently as Brutus (Julius Caesar), Prospero (Tempest), and Mr. Bennett (Pride and Prejudice). LB holds a BA in Theatre and a MEd in Education Technology and Curriculum Design.

James Lucas

Dr. John Watson

James is pleased to make his return to the Sanborn stage after appearing last year in The Three Musketeers as the Comte de Rochforte. An SVS regular since the early days of the company, James has appeared in numerous productions throughout the Silicon Valley. Past credits with SVS include the Fool in King Lear, Jacques in As You Like It, and Will Hayes in Ken Ludwig’s Shakespeare inHollywood. He would like to give special thanks to his Doll and his Ohana for all their patience, love and support.

Ron Talbot

Mycroft Holmes /
Mr. Richard

Ron is thrilled to be making his SVS debut and to be working with this amazingly talented group of artists. Favorite roles include: The Philadelphia Story (C.K. Dexter Haven) for Western Stage, The Three Musketeers (Rochefort) and Lysistrata (Socrates) for City Lights, Romeo and Juliet (Friar Lawrence) for Los Gatos Shakespeare, Twelfth Night (Sebastian) for Marin Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing (Don John) for Pacific Repertory, Vera Cruz (Douglas MacArthur) for Pear Theatre, and The Taming of the Shrew (Petruchio) for San Leandro Shakespeare.

Ross Harkness

Micklewhite /
Mr. George

Ross is happy to return to SVS at Sanborn where he last appeared on stage in 2013 as Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice. Other SVS shows include this season’s The Merry Wives of Windsor (Falstaff), The Merchant of Venice (Shylock), King Lear (Lear), and Much Ado About Nothing (Leonato twice!) Other shows include Finian’s Rainbow (SBMT’), Death of a Salesman (BWTC) and the World Premiere of Frankenstein (CLTC). By day Ross is a Security Management professional and holds an MA in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.

Erik Browne

Mr. Henry

Erik appeared on the SVS stage in TheMerry Wives of Windsor (Slender), Shakespeare In Hollywood (Joe E. Brown), Othello (Roderigo), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Snout/Wall), Twelfth Night (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), and many others. Other favorite plays include A Christmas Carol (Bob Cratchit), Beauty Queen of Leenane (Ray), and Arsenic and Old Lace (Teddy) for Northside Theatre Company. During the day he is a software engineer, making smartphones do interesting things.

Keenan Flagg

Williams

This marks Keenan’s fifth year working with SVS! He’s excited to help bring this new Sherlock Holmes story to life. His past credits include Daryl (Shakespeare in Hollywood), Eros (Antony and Cleopatra), and most recently Sargent Penny (The Hollow). When not in stage, Keenan is an active contributor to Play On Words and Flash Fiction Forum.

Drew Benjamin Jones

Nicky

Drew returns to Silicon Valley Shakespeare for his third year. Previous shows include Taming of the Shrew (Tranio), The Tempest (Caliban), and Antony and Cleopatra (Alexas) with SVS, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and Assassins (LASC), Truce: A Christmas Wish from the Great War (CLTC), and several roles in ShakesBEERience (Buck Hill Productions). Drew received his BA in Theatre from SJSU.

Tonya Duncan

Club Secretary

Tonya is ridiculously excited to make her Sanborn acting debut in this amazing role! A stage manager for the past two summers (Shakespeare in Hollywood and The Three Musketeers), Sanborn is now her favorite summer hangout. Past credits include: Steel Magnolias (Shelby); Dracula (Mina); and The Crucible (Abigail). When not roaming the forest, Tonya can be found: smashing the patriarchy, reading horror novels, and yelling at Keenan to stay out of the ravine.

Dana Morgan

Christiane /
Magician’s Assistant

Dana is excited to return to Sanborn Park, after playing Portia in Julius Caesar last summer. Her favorite recent roles include Susie in The Country House (Limelight Actors Theater), Shirley Mercer in Matthew Briar and the Age of Resurrection (Epic Immersive), and Natalie in Ovation Pictures’ award-winning 48-Hour Film Project, STONEWOOD. Many thanks to Dave for his love and support. Pour Susan Finch, qui m’a appris à “parler avec distinction”. BFA, Tisch School of the Arts.

Barbara Heninger

Mrs. Hudson /
Lady Witness

Barbara is delighted to spend her second summer with SVS. Besides playing the Soothsayer in Julius Caesar last year, favorite recent roles include Mrs. Tottendale (The Drowsy Chaperone, SCP), Electra (Gypsy) and Prudy Pingleton (Hairspray, both SBMT), Mrs. Dubose (To Kill a Mockingbird, Hillbarn), and numerous fussy, silly, angry, funny, or otherwise excited old ladies. She is also on the Board of SBMT, and manages a high-tech documentation team. Love to Andy for his support!

Kimberly Scofield

O’Malley / Understudy

Kimberly is thrilled to return to SVS for her second year! A stage manager for last year’s Julius Caesar, she is excited to experience Sanborn from the other side of the tech table. Past credits include: Hamlet (Rosencrantz & Guildenstern), The Assembly Women (Chorus Leader), Lysistrata (Myrrhine). Kimberly is a proud graduate of the Foothill Theatre Conservatory and holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts with a performance emphasis form San Francisco State University. In addition to acting, Kimberly is also a stage manager and director.

Erin Southard

Ensemble

Erin is delighted to return to SVS this summer, seen last in Love’s Labour’s Lost (Maria) and The Merry Wives of Windsor (Rugby). Along with her love for Shakespeare, she spends her time as a House Manager for City Lights Theater Company, assists with other various technical aspects of theatre, and graphic designs. She would like to thank her family for their continual support.

Nathan Levy

Roundy/A.C. Cross/ Understudy/Ensemble
(acting intern)

Nathan is delighted to appear in SVS’ Sherlock Holmes production while attending New York University/Tisch School of the Arts. He was last seen on the West Coast in Marin Shakespeare Festival’s As You Like It, after performing in Maryland Shakespeare Festival Riotous Youth’s Twelfth Night (Malvolio), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bottom), and Macbeth (Duncan/Porter). He relishes the opportunity to act in this modern play written in the classical tradition.

Ally McGreevy

Ensemble
(acting intern)

Ally McGreevy (Ensemble) is tickled pink to return to SVS after acting in The Comedy of Errors in the 2015 season! Favorite roles include Dotty (Noises Off), Roz (9 to 5), and Miss Preen (The Man Who Came to Dinner). Ally just survived her freshman year studying theatre at UC San Diego, where she acted in An Ideal Husband and Anansi: The Story King! With a year’s experience, she can now officially proclaim NorCal > SoCal!

Shawn is quite pleased for the opportunity to direct again for SVS, after having had a wonderful experience directing The Imaginary Invalid. Since 2004, Shawn has also worked on productions with SVS as an actor, set designer, scenic artist, and assistant director. He is particularly fond of and grateful to those individuals who return year after year to comprise the SVS creative, technical, production and management teams, and most certainly the company’s dedicated audiences.

Janine Burgener

Assistant Director

Janine is pleased to return to SVS after a 9-year hiatus. Directing credits: Forever Plaid (Riverfront Theatre); The Whole Shebang and Les Précieuses Ridicules (Nevada Repertory Company). Past SVS roles: Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), Macbeth (Second Witch), and Comedy of Errors (Dromio of Ephesus). In addition to a national tour with Maximum Entertainment, Janine has also performed in the Bay Area with 42nd Street Moon, SF Playhouse, the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, BACT, and the Willows Theatre Company. www.janineburgener.com

Chrissie Schwanhausser

Stage Manager

Chrissie is delighted to work with Silicon Valley Shakespeare for the first time this summer! She has worked as a theatre professional in the Bay Area for the past two years with California Theatre Center where she has served as Tour Coordinator for their 2015-2016 school series productions. Previous stage management credits include Dead Accounts and On the Verge at Dragon Productions, Crossroads at Cal Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, and Antigone at California Theatre Center’s Advanced/Intermediate Conservatory. She’d like to thank the audience for supporting live theatre.

Jim Culley

Scenic Designer

Jim is retired Professor Emeritus from San José State University where he taught and designed for twenty-five years. He has designed for the Cabrillo Stage Company, and West Valley Musical Theatre. For the past fifteen years, he has designed four or five productions each season for the San José Children’s Musical Theatre, including this season’s Sweeney Todd and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Jim served as Technical Director and as Scenic Designer for the Barn Theatre, a professional theatre near Kalamazoo for ten seasons. He was the Technical Director at Villa Montalvo for five seasons. This summer he is excited to design for Silicon Valley Shakespeare where many of his past students have found a home.

John Bernard

Lighting Designer

John Bernard Is happy to be back for his 6th season with SVS. He was last at SVS in 2016, where he lit Julius Caesar and The Three Musketeers. John has lectured and designed at San Jose State University, as well as designed for San Jose Stage, the Pear Avenue, and The Dragon Productions. John Holds a BA in technical Theater from San Jose State University, and an MFA in Lighting design from The University of Washington.

Melissa Sanchez

Costume Designer

Melissa received her B.A in Technical Theatre with an emphasis on Costume Design from San Francisco State University. Productions there included Chess, A Streetcar Named Desire, Barber of Seville, Spring Awakening, Tartuffe, References to Salvador Dali Make me Hot, and Wallflower. Other works include West Side Story and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (CLTC), Death of a Salesman and Spamalot (PAP), Macario (TV) Julius Caesar (SVS), Miracle on 34th Street, Swift Justice, I Do! I Do! Crowns, Memphis, and Musical of Musicals (TTC). She is excited to return to Silicon Valley Shakespeare for their production of Sherlock Holmes and the Adventures of the Suicide Club.

Adam Weinstein

Sound Designer

Adam has worked with SVS since 2008. Some of his favorite SVS productions include Pride and Prejudice, Pericles, The Imaginary Invalid, and As You Like It. He has also designed several shows at Broadway West, including The Passion of Dracula and The Children’s Hour. He was last seen onstage at Broadway West in And Then There Were None (Lombard), and A Few Good Men (Cpl. Howard).

Amy Mullenex

Assistant Stage Manager

Amy is beyond excited to be back at SVS this year! Last season, she worked as a sound board op for Julius Caesar and as a part of the build crew. She has actively participated in her school’s performing arts department, with credits including The Sound of Music (Head of Marketing), The King Stag (Stage Manager), Peter Pan (Assistant Stage Manager), and A Little Princess (Student Director). Next year, she will be attending the New School with a double major in film and sociology and a minor in theater, and is thus incredibly excited to be able to spend another summer pursuing her passions with SVS

Doll Piccotto

Dramaturg

Louis Stone-Collonge

Technical Director
Master Carpenter

Louis returns as this season’s Technical Director and Build Intern Mentor. He is founder of The Audacity Performing Arts Project; producing 10+ plays and musicals per year in South Bay schools many at reduced or zero cost to the communities they serve. Louis is also Theatre Technical Director for Notre Dame High School in San Jose. He is endowed with an amazing personality that many have found devastatingly charming.

Christina Sturken

Properties Designer

Christina returns for her sixth season with SVS. Recent Bay Area work includes prop designing for City Lights Theater Company’s productions of Ideation and Rapture Blister Burn in addition to SVS’s 2016 productions of Julius Caesar and The Three Musketeers. She also works as a freelance Stage Manager and Stage Hand. Christina earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts from San Jose State University.

Jack Griffin

Master Electrician

Melissa Weinstein

Hair and Makeup Designer

Melissa is delighted to return for her 11th season! Previous SVS design credits include The Tempest, Comedy of Errors, The Three Musketeers, Pride and Prejudice, Antony and Cleopatra, King Lear, Pericles, Julius Caesar, The Imaginary Invalid, As You Like It, this season’s Merry Wives, and more. Designer/artist credits elsewhere also include Pixar, Disney Channel UK, Opera San Jose, and West Bay Opera. Additionally, Melissa is an actor and is also SVS’ Education Director.

Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club

What time are the performances?

How long is the performance?

Sanborn Park has a curfew requiring all participants (audience, performers, and staff) to leave the park by 10 pm. Therefore, all performances end at or before 9:30 pm.

How much are tickets?

Tickets for Shakespeare in Sanborn Park are $25, with discounts available for students, seniors, and SVS members. Kids 17 years of age and under attend for FREE, with a paid adult admission. Children still need a reserved ticket, to guarantee seat availability.

Where can I buy tickets?

Tickets for all productions are available here. Due to the limited capacity of the space, we recommend purchasing tickets in advance. All ticket holders need to check in at the Box Office upon arrival. Online Ticket holders are asked to present their online confirmations to receive physical tickets. People purchasing tickets at the park can pay with cash, Visa or Mastercard (cellular data access permitting), or a check made out to Silicon Valley Shakespeare.

What about parking?

Parking at Sanborn Park is $6 per vehicle. There is limited lighting in the parking lots after performances, so you might consider bringing a small flashlight.

Is the seating reserved?

Seating in Sanborn Park is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The house opens for seating at approximately 6:30pm, though SVS members get earlier access. At that time, you can claim your seats with a blanket and then continue to enjoy a picnic in the park.

All seating consists of gray folding chairs with padded seats and backs.

Will there be food available at the show?

We have a well-stocked concessions stand where you can purchase wine, water, snacks, cookies, candy, and both cold and hot beverages, perfect for complementing a picnic you bring for before the performance.

Can I drop my child off at the park and pick him or her up after the show?

Children must be supervised at all times. SVS asks that at least one adult be present for every six children in attendance. If you choose to drop a teenager off, note that Sanborn Park closes for entry at sunset and you cannot drive into the park later to retrieve your child. Cellular phone service in the park is very limited, so your child will not be able to reach you if they wish to leave early. Silicon Valley Shakespeare is not responsible for any child left unattended.

Is Shakespeare in the Park a dress-up affair?

Not at all! The performance is outdoors in a park where the terrain is primarily dirt and gravel. We recommend wearing shoes that let you walk safely to and from the theatre (high heels are not a good choice). The weather can change quickly, so we recommend that you bring something warm to put on later in the evening. If you bring/wear a hat we request that it be one that won’t obstruct someone else’s view.

What about dogs?

Well-socialized dogs on a leash are welcome, but we ask owners to choose seats on the left side of the audience, closest to the creek. This lets people with allergies or fear of dogs to keep a suitable distance. Exceptions can be made for qualified service dogs.

Are the plays appropriate for children?

We pride ourselves on providing entertainment for the entire family. Due to graphic content inherent in many of Shakespeare’s works, we recommend parents familiarize themselves with the plays and determine if they are appropriate for your particular child. To assist parents we have provided a rating system (see the Family Rating Page).

Can we bring a picnic?

Of course! There are several areas in the park to enjoy a picnic. If you come early to picnic, we recommend you have someone get in line 30-45 minutes before the performance to reserve seats, then return to finish your picnic. Peterson Grove, though conveniently located, is available to our patrons only if there is no wedding or other event present. Other picnic tables are available, just up the hill. When you walk out of the parking lot, turn left.

What are those cool thrones in the back of the theatre? How can I sit there?

Royal Seating is an exclusive SVS experience! Extra-comfortable seats, a private seating area, a designated usher pre-show and at intermission – this is the lap of luxury for your evening’s entertainment.

Available primarily to members of our Royal Court, though some are available for purchase at some performances. You can become a member of our Royal Court, or ask about upgrading at the Box Office if you see those seats are empty.

Will you be passing the hat at Sanborn Park?

SVS does not pass the hat at ticketed performances. However, if you wish to make a donation to continue to support Shakespeare in the Park, and to help us keep it free for kids, there is a donation box in the concession area. Checks can be made out to Silicon Valley Shakespeare.

Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Suicide Club — Rated T for Teens

This play is a comedic thriller that contains some adult themes which might give some parents pause. There is no online version, but you can get a copy of the script here.

About the Family Rating System

Silicon Valley Shakespeare makes theatrical classics enjoyable and accessible to as wide an audience as possible. Families love to attend our plays, and we’re proud to introduce thousands of young people to the Bard.

To assist parents and guardians in assessing which of our plays are right for their children, our Family Rating System features a general rating for each production followed by a more nuanced recommendation and description of the play’s content.

Our assessment can’t fit every family, so we also provide a link to the actual text of our plays whenever possible so that parents can make their own decision. Our ratings are:

E (Everyone) — Suitable for all ages.

PG (Parental Guidance) — Appropriate for most audiences under 13, but we recommend that parents inform themselves about the content of the play and its themes, and exercise their best judgment for their individual child.

T (Teen) — Might be inappropriate for audiences under 13. Parents of younger children are welcome to attend with their children, but we recommend that they prepare for questions their children might have about some of the more sophisticated and mature content and themes of the play, and its particular presentation.

M (Mature) — Not recommended for audiences under 17.

About very young children: Infants and toddlers are always welcome at our outdoor performances. We’re thrilled to offer newer parents an opportunity to enjoy live theatre! We ask that at least one parent or guardian be prepared to take a break with these tiny theatergoers out of earshot of the theatre space, if they become upset or very vocal.

SPONSORED IN PART BY

BECOME A MEMBER

Enjoy ticket discounts, special events, cozy blankets and seat cushions, free beverages, and other great perks. All while you help support SVS – it’s 100% tax-deductible. Become a Member today!

PRESS & MEDIA

Are you a member of the media? Visit our Media Information to download press releases and production photos for your publication.